CHAPTER XXXVII 



TWO BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES: AN EPISODE IN THE HISTORY 



OF SPIRITUALISM 



Among my scientific friends there are two with whom I had 

 some relations in regard to spiritualism of a specially inter- 

 esting character — St. George Mivart and George J. Romanes 

 — and to each of these I must devote a few pages. 



It was, I think, through my conversation and my first 

 small book that Mivart became satisfied that the phenomena 

 were at least partly genuine, and although a Roman Catholic, 

 he was not afraid to pursue the inquiry. On going to Naples 

 in the winter of 1870, he wrote me for an introduction to my 

 friends, Mr. and Mrs. Guppy, who were then staying there. 

 On the eve of his departure, he wrote telling me what had 

 happened : 



"Nothing could have exceeded the kindness which your 

 good friends, Mr. and Mrs. Guppy, have shown to me, and I 

 have felt quite ashamed of the quantity of their time I have 

 taken up. Besides morning calls and a walk, they have given 

 me three seances (all to myself) and have most kindly prom- 

 ised to give me a fourth and last this evening, as to-morrow 

 morning I start on my road northwards. 



" At the first seance there was nothing but raps — questions 

 were replied to ; two of which much surprised me, as they 

 were only asked mentally. A remedy was indicated for an 

 affection of the teeth, which I have tried and believe will 

 prove efficacious. 



" At the second seance (the first dark one I ever attended) 

 flowers were produced. The door was locked, the room 

 searched, and all requisite precautions taken. I was not sur- 



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